Yucang Mountain Scenic Area

Yucang Mountain Scenic Area lies 20 kilometres northwest of the seat of Cangnan County. It stretches 8 kilometres from north to south and 9 kilometres from east to west, covering a total area of 74 square kilometres, with a planned scenic zone area of 23.5 square kilometres. The site is divided into five major sections: Central, Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Scenic Areas, featuring 108 attractions in total.

Also known as Bamian Mountain, Yucang Mountain is a branch range of South Yandang Mountain. Its main peak, Great Yucang Peak, stands at an altitude of 921.5 metres. According to Unified Records of the Ming Dynasty, an ancient stone stele once stood on the mountain carved with eight characters: “Mount Yucang, coiled by dragons and crouched by tigers”, which has long since faded away. Zheng Sigong of the Ming Dynasty once depicted the mountain’s ancient charm: “Once ancient pines filled every valley; aged trees wove dense canopies, gathering clouds and rosy glow. Even without rain, green hues dripped everywhere. It was famed as a top scenic spot, thronged by endless travellers.”

In the sixth lunar month of the 30th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1765), He Zixiang, Magistrate of Pingyang County, composed an inscription, which Monk Huisong, abbot of Fayun Temple, raised funds to carve onto a giant stone tablet titled The Ban Decree by Fengkuan. The tablet reads: “Great Yucang of the Thirty-sixth Du is a renowned mountain of Pingyang. Jade deposits are found within its ridges, hence the name Yucang (Jade Granary)”, a title that has endured to this day.

A mountain-type scenic resort, Yucang Mountain boasts unique, graceful landscapes and abundant natural sights, with core attractions scattered across the Central Scenic Area and its four gate districts.

The mountain is celebrated for three unparalleled wonders: grotesque rocks, sunrise vistas and sea of clouds, collectively dubbed the “Three Marvels of Yucang Mountain”, among which the bizarre rock formations stand out most prominently.

Dense clusters of strange rocks blanket the mountain slopes between 700 and 900 metres above sea level. They resemble rabbits, turtles, horses, snakes, sea lions, elephants, sailing boats, flowing brooks, cascading waterfalls and coastal shoals, forming a spectacular “sea of stones”. Towering monoliths pierce the sky like celestial ladders; some mountain ridges rival the precipitous peaks of Huangshan. Certain massive boulders balance delicately and can be rocked by human hands, offering delightful fun. Others mimic stepping stones across mountain streams with lifelike shapes, brimming with whimsical charm. The whole mountain is a natural stone sculpture gallery. Visitors may admire the rocks in clusters or single specimens, gaze at them from afar or stand close to observe—each perspective delivers distinct impressions and profound artistic conception, leaving tourists endlessly enchanted. Anyone who sets foot here cannot help but marvel at nature’s unparalleled craftsmanship.

The most stirring experience atop the lofty summits is watching the sunrise. In the silent predawn hours, visitors climb the viewing platform and gaze into the distance. A crimson sun bursts over the horizon, instantly flooding heaven and earth with golden rays that dye the entire forest red. Between the static beauty of weird rocks and the dynamic splendour of sunrise lies the ethereal sea of clouds, whose magical allure shifts with the seasons. In winter, thick layers of cloud blanket the land, swallowing all peaks and merging mountain and sky into one boundless expanse. In summer, billowing mist swirls through woods and stone crevices carried by mountain breezes, sometimes shrouding the sky in grey haze, sometimes parting to reveal vast stretches of crystal blue sky.

Beyond its enchanting natural scenery on the southern slopes, Yucang Mountain also features distinctive cultural relics. Every pavilion, terrace, tower and chamber on the mountain carries its own unique character. All these structures are built entirely of stone, featuring elegant, primitive exteriors. A well-equipped guest house serves as the cultural and recreational hub of Yucang Mountain Forest Park. The famed Fayun Temple, the foremost Buddhist sanctuary in Cangnan County, bears a stone carving inside inscribed “Longevity Mountain of the Imperial Dynasty”, said to be handwriting of the Zhengde Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Integrating cultural sites with mountains, grotesque rocks, streams, waterfalls, lakes, woodlands and ancient temples, Yucang Mountain unites grand momentum with secluded grace. Its main peak, Great Yucang Peak, rises 921.5 metres above sea level, covered in lush forest and dotted with countless exotic stones. Viewing sunrise, wandering through sea of clouds and appreciating stone formations atop the summit embody the mountain’s three supreme marvels.

The Sea of Stones represents the pinnacle of Yucang Mountain’s natural landscapes. Rocks spread everywhere, each bearing a distinctive graceful shape shaped exquisitely by nature. The 108 scenic spots including Immortal Stepping Stones, Stone Waterfall Cliff, Capsized Boat amid the Stone Sea, Sky-Gazing Turtle, Rocking Boulder and Brocade Valley are masterpieces carved by nature’s hand. Enchanted visitors often sigh in admiration: “Guilin’s landscapes rank first under heaven; Yucang’s sea of stones tops all land in China.”

Yucang Mountain Forest Park covers a woodland area of 874 hectares with a forest coverage rate of 89.9%, boasting extraordinarily abundant animal and plant resources. It was designated a National Forest Park by the Ministry of Forestry of China in 1991